NFL News: Jonathan Taylor inks $42M three-year contract extension with Colts

Jonathan Taylor, Colts agree to contract extension

Last Saturday, Indiana Colts running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to a lucrative three-year contract extension. He is set to earn $42 million, with an additional $26.5 million guaranteed shortly after being activated from the physically unable to perform list.

Taylor, who missed the first four games of the season due to an ankle injury, was originally set to earn $4.3 million in the final year of his rookie contract. However, now that he has secured an average annual salary of $14 million, Taylor has officially become one of the NFL’s highest-paid running backs.

One of NFL’s highest-paid RBs

It had been two years since a running back signed such a profitable long-term deal. The last player to do so, Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Jones, restructured his contract this offseason to help his team free up cap space.

According to NFL media company Over the Cap, there are only two players with higher salaries than Taylor right now. They are San Fransisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and New Orleans Saints Alvin Kamara.

The 27-year-old McCaffrey earns an annual salary of $64 million after being signed in 2020 for $16 million. Meanwhile, Kamara now makes $75 million yearly since his $16 million signing in 2020.

Trailing behind Taylor are the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry, the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb, and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs. Jones, along with New York Giants’ Saquon Barkley and Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard, are also among the highest, even though still below Taylor’s cap.

Given the current situation, Taylor’s contract extension marks a significant victory for all NFL running backs. His deal is expected to set a favorable precedent for Jacobs, Barkley, and Pollard as they negotiate potentially more profitable contracts next offseason.

This move elevates the total of running backs earning at least $10 million to nine, with three of them on one-year contracts. Barkley and Pollard are currently playing under franchise tags, but the former also secured a $2 million signing bonus.

Boosting RB market value

Quarterbacks may be considered the top earners in the NFL. However, running backs remain crucial for a team’s performance.

For instance, the 49ers’ recent achievements heavily rely on McCaffrey, who leads the NFL with 459 rushing yards and six touchdowns. In contrast, the Giants’ 1-3 start can be partially attributed to Barkley’s absence. The Giants’ star running back has missed his team’s last two games due to an ankle injury.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler told CBS Sports earlier this year that performing well on the field is the most effective way for the NFL’s top running backs to boost the position’s market value.

Ekeler shared his strong disagreement with several unnamed running backs who have advised against playing the position. While he acknowledged that running backs are currently “going through a period where there’s controversy,” Ekeler encouraged a fighting spirit not to give up easily.

“We’re not going to let all this work we put in go to waste, because guess what? We do make an impact,” Ekeler said. “Go down and talk to these coordinators that have stud running backs and they’re going to say, ‘Yes, we need this guy on the field because our offense is different when he’s on the field as opposed to when he is not.”

Ekeler also added that the essential factor lies in sustaining a strong performance level for individuals like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Najee Harris. Harris has rushed for 74 yards on 16 attempts and averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Ekeler further mentioned that veteran running backs are responsible for providing support and actively promoting this cause. The 28-year-old called it a “brotherhood” that all veteran running backs must share.